An expert pilot in the USA who was electrocuted when his glider blew up onto a wire

A pilot who survived the pyrotechnics of a power line landing only to drop two storeys onto a raging brush fire ignited by his sparks

And a pilot who was focused on making goal at dusk and hit a high tension line carrying enough power to light Las Vegas. His light bulb imitation flashed the whole valley. He cut himself free with a hook knife and landed in a molten pile of glider pieces. He staggered away alive but it went down as a bad day.

The problem with power lines is they are difficult to see. Because of this, adopt a general outlook:

Expect power lines along every road and leading to every building

Look for power lines anytime you see a cut in the trees or even the suggestion of a trace

Look for tell-tale shadows of power line poles

View the field from different angles to detect power line poles

Follow a logical route from any pole you see to trace the power line route

Be aware that small, more invisible lines are often placed above or below larger lines.

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Upcoming Events

From 4-10 December 2016 will be the 20th edition of the Canary Islands’ International Open Hang Gliding Championship. FAI cat. 2, pilots there will be Class 1, Class 5 and Sports Class categories. Airtribune.com

Tom Weissenberger is inviting advanced hang glider pilots to join him in Lanzarote, “one of the most unique and consistent flying sites in southern Europe” in December 2016 / January 2017. The LanzaXCamp should be[...]

The 11th consecutive Forbes Flatlands competition, organised by Moyes and the Sydney Hang Gliding Club, will take place from 30 December 2016 – 6 January 2017, with practice towing days on 28 and 29 December. The competition[...]

The fourth annual Wings Over Winter Powered Paragliding (PPG) event will take place at the Lake Wales Airport in Central Florida, from 6-8 January, 2016. Organisers say: “Wings Over Winter is the perfect getaway for[...]